A Peek at My Holiday Planner(s)

"It's that time of year ..."

(Well, almost.)

Actually, there are 12 whole weeks until Christmas - but we all know that sounds like more time than it really is. Honestly, doesn't it seem like it was just Labor Day? And yet here we are in the midst of the first week of October!

Now, I don't like to rush any season - as the poem goes, something bright in all! - but I so dislike a rushed, frantic Christmas. I don't like buying last-minute, meaningless presents because I didn't have the time (or the materials) to help my children make homemade gifts. I don't like missing special events - a tree lighting or a choir concert for example  - because we didn't make the time to go, or we simply forgot. I don't like buying too many presents for my kids because I was rushed and disorganized as I shopped. I don't like paying big $$$ for express shipping because I didn't get my orders in on time. And I really don't like looking back on the "Christmas That Was" and realizing we missed a bunch of small, but essential things ... like making Grammie's gingerbread, or visiting a creche, or watching a favorite movie together.

Not that we can - or should - try to do everything, every year. But with a little forethought and preparation we can be sure to cover the important to-dos while including the more meaningful traditions.

And so here I find myself in need of a game plan - and therefore, in need of a planner. Here's what I made up over the weekend  ...

I started with a small red binder, which I purchased at Staples. (It's a smaller version of the standard 3-ring binder - 8 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches.) I made up a pretty collage for the front cover ... 

... and added stickers to the spine:

Inside the binder, I filed loose-leaf paper and five tabbed dividers:

The sections include:

Countdown: a note page for each week leading up to New Year's (things to do, themes/things to celebrate, etc.)

Thanksgiving: all my lists for Turkey Day (cleaning, decorating, ordering, menu, etc.)

Greetings: the Christmas card list

Giving: gifts to buy, to order, to ship, to make ...

Activities, etc.: craft ideas, family fun, faith-related activities, events to attend, decorating notes, etc.

The nice thing about a planner of this size, is it will easily fit in my purse or backpack, making it convenient to take with me when running holiday-related errands.

But ... I still need a place to keep loose bits of information like magazine clippings, event flyers, and things I've printed out from the internet. So I also made a holiday file folder for just this purpose.

On the cover, using a ruler and pencil, I made a calendar which covers the weeks from Halloween through New Year's. I've only just started filling it in ... it's really more of a fun visual than a true working calendar. (Kind of like the Martha Stewart reminder calendar.)

Inside, I made a pocket from pretty scrapbook paper:

And on the left inside cover, I stapled paper for random notes.

(I toyed with making this folder my only holiday planner - using the stapled note page for plans and lists - but I really need more writing space than this would allow.)

And so there I have it - my two holiday planners for 2010.

I also have a holiday tote bag for storing my planners as well as any holiday magazines, catalogs and library books. I'll keep it parked by my workspace from now through New Year's.

Well, that's all for now ~ but thanks, as always, for stopping by! It's a dark dreary morning here - so chilly we turned the fireplace on! - and I find myself strangely in the mood for a cup of hot cocoa ... maybe with a dash of peppermint. ;)

I'll keep you all posted on my planning progress ~ I hope to do lots of "holiday planner" posts over the next several weeks! :)